(AFP) – Rafael Nadal won a defamation case against former French health and sports minister Roselyne Bachelot on Thursday after she accused him of doping on television.
Bachelot was handed a €500 fine by a court in Paris and ordered to pay 12,000 euros in damages and legal fees to Rafa over the allegation she made to the D8 channel in March 2016.
Rafa:
I would like to reiterate my respect to the legal procedure and Tribunals of France. We have been made aware of their decision by which Mrs. Bachelot has been found guilty of defamation.
When I filed the law suit against Mrs. Bachelot, I intended not only to defend my integrity and my image as an athlete but also the values I have defended all my career.
I also wish to avoid any public figure from making insulting or false allegations against an athlete using the media, without any evidence or foundation and to go unpunished.
The motivation as I have always remarked was not economical. As the tribunal considered there has been a wrong-doing and the sentence recognises the right to damages, the compensation will be paid back in full to an NGO or foundation in France.
The ex-minister from 2007-2010 alleged that Rafa had faked an injury in 2012, when he missed the final six months of the season due to knee problems, in order to hide a positive drug test.
Rafa has never failed a drugs test and denies ever using banned substances.
He had sought € 100,000 in damages and explained last year that he had decided to take legal action to set an example, having previously ignored allegations against him.
His lawyer, Patrick Maisonneuve, told the court in October that the doping accusation could have had “major consequences” for Rafa concerning his “existing or future sponsors”.
Source: AFP
Justice is serve Rafa ,Way to go Champion. 🎾 🎾 🎾🎾🎾👍🇺🇸❤️
Is that French law you are quoting? Makes no sense to this American. Are you saying monetary damages are deliberately low in civil cases so that criminal penalties are much harsher in a criminal defamation case? You don’t make any distinction in your comment and I don’t know French defamation law. Thanks for any clarity you can offer.
RAFA WON THE WAR
Good on you Rafa, congrats 👏🏻😃
Justice is done! 💪🏼😘
Miss watching you play champ 🎾🤗
Hope you’re recovering well and is getting all the rest you need ❤️🍀
Am looking forward to your comeback next season 😍
Correction: “… ARE getting all the rest… “ 😉
Congratulations Rafa on winning your case !
To accuse you of all people of doping it’s just utterly ridiculous and just that …defamation of character .
You are an amazing guy on and off the courts .
And just simply not enough words to say and or express to you. When I first started watching tennis I was watching a match you were playing against Milos Raonic and told myself that you Rafa are the one I chose to be my favorite and my #1 forever and always. I 💜 My Rafa 🇪🇸😚😍
V A M O S !
R A F A !
💜💚❤💛💙
I did a little investigating and she has been convicted of criminal defamation which proves not just that the statements were false but were made with actual knowledge of falsity, or recklessness with the specific intention to cause harm as opposed to the lesser offence of civil defamation. The fines are deliberately low ‘excessive fines and other harsh criminal penalties should never be available as a sanction for breach of defamation laws, no matter how egregious or blatant the defamatory statement’. This is probably a deterrent to making false claims.
Thanks for the clarification Tiggy. The tables are turned and now Bachelot is shown to be the dishonest one. Nothing like a bit of karma!
Sorry Tiggy, my question went elsewhere so here it is again:
Is that French law you are quoting? Makes no sense to this American. Are you saying monetary damages are deliberately low in civil cases so that criminal penalties are much harsher in a criminal defamation case? You don’t make any distinction in your comment and I don’t know French defamation law. Thanks for any clarity you can offer.
RAFA WON THE WAR
In France, the Tribunal Correctionnel governs offenses classified as misdemeanours, therefore she has been convicted of criminal defamation as opposed to civil.
I’m no expert, but I found this out in the last few hours.
Article 19 of The Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Right to Freedom of Opinion and Expression. Civil defamation ‘sets reasonable limits to the amount of compensation that may be awarded,
‘Prison sentences, suspended prison sentences, suspension of the right to express oneself through any particular form of media, or to practise journalism or any other profession, excessive fines and other harsh criminal penalties should never be available as a sanction for breach of defamation laws, no matter how egregious or blatant the defamatory statement.’ Probably to protect freedom of speech.
Could explain why the award is small but I really don’t know. Either way, she appears to have a criminal conviction which is good as far as I’m concerned, Rafa’s physician also tweeted that she had been found guilty of the ‘crime of defamation’. I was worried something was lost in translation but it seems to be the case.
Wow, quite different from US codes. Thanks so much for the legal edification.
Regarding her “criminal” conviction, I agree wholeheartedly that it is just delicious. She now has been branded a “CRIMINAL,” and rightly so fir her egregious behavior against Rafa. Music to my ears.
Great work Tiggy.
Sorry the latter statement ‘prison sentences….. relates to criminal defamation. The first ‘Article 19’ refers to civil defamation.
Very good news
Good to hear this. Vamos Rafa <3
Bien por Rafa!!! Eso se llama justicia, aunque a medias…Aunque es obvio que la suma no era trascendental, siempre que el honor y el buen nombre de alguien está en el tapete de la opinión pública, lo justo sería condenar al culpable de tal manera, que cualquier otro que necesite notoriedad de alguna índole lo piense muy bien antes de atreverse a dar tal paso. Pero eso es lo que hay y no queda más que felicitarte junto a tus abogados y allegados por ser quienes son y lograr que tus fans confiemos y disfrutemos de tus logros y alegrías. Adelante para este 2018!!!
good
It may seem like a small amount but has she been convicted of civil or criminal defamation? She’s either been sued for compensation or has been criminally prosecuted by the state. Obviously the latter is far more serious.
Yes Tiggy, I see your point about tension between the French and Spanish sportsmen. I hadn t thought about that. This year I saw Tsonga losing at R Garros and Paris Bercy, Gasquet, Chardy 😕although saw Benneteau win. 😁Pouille is quite strong but the French would like to see one of theirs win on their own ground and the Spanish Armada with Nadal at the head has been strong recently. Rafael has always been friends with Gasquet, since they were teenagers in the juniors and would no doubt like to see him win a Masters 1000. ☺ Fiona in Paris
Yes Tiggy, I see your point about tension between the French and Spanish sportsmen. I hadn t thought about that. This year I saw Tsonga losing at R Garros and Paris Bercy, Gasquet, Chardy 😕although saw Benneteau win. 😁Pouille is quite strong but the French would like to see one of theirs win on their own ground and the Spanish Armada with Nadal at the head has been strong recently. Rafael has always been friends with Gasquet, since they were teenagers in the juniors and would no doubt like to see him win a Masters 1000. ☺ Fiona in Paris
VERY HAPPY FOR YOU , DEAR RAFA. ALL YOUR FANS ARE ALWAYS WITH YOU. GOD BLESS YOU.
THE WHOLE WORLD KNOWS THE TRUTH NOW. THAT YOU COULD NEVER DO SUCH A THING. YOU LOVE THE SPORT SO MUCH. YOU ARE A TRUE SPORTS MAN.
LOVE YOU RAFA DEAR, ALWAYS. ❣💟💞💖💗💙💚💕💓💘😙😙😙😙👍
I had no doubt that Rafa would be vindicated.
I am appalled by the ridiculously small amount of damages awarded to him. If I am not mistaken, Rafa promised to donate any settlement to a charity. I wish she had been given a REAL monetary fine instead of that paltry sum. Ridiculous.
RAFA ROCKED THE PARIS COURT
500 e is a paltry sum but 20, 000 is a large sum. Don t forget she must pay that too. That covers the law costs. If Rafa donates it to his Foundation in Mallorca so much the better. That is for young tennis players with fewer ressources. ☺ Fiona in Paris
It’s possible $20,000 is considered a large sum in France but not in the USA.
RAFA WON THE WAR
She should be fired and pay the max! I knew Rafa would win this and I’m tired of all the false accusations about my champion!
Congratulations, Rafael.👏👊A formal statement is necessary from Bachelot-what was the purpose of her accusations? Strange situation for a government official. Rafael has only enhanced the tradition of Roland Garros. We are curious about her motivation.🤔
Yes, I agree. I live in Paris and on TV the cable channel we see her now and again but not often on the main channels as she is no longer a Minister. It seemed very strange to say something as vague as that😕. No real motive either, once involved in Sports people stay interested but keep their distance. Like the former tennis players who comment on the matches. ☺ Fiona in Paris
I know nothing about the woman and what tone she used for the remark. I know there were some tensions between Spanish and French sportsmen generally because of the success of Spanish sports. Sounds like she resurrected something that she thought the French sports public would enjoy to gain some publicity or she simply repeated what she had heard (which is what she tried to defend herself with).
500 e is a paltry sum but 20, 000 is a large sum. Don t forget she must pay that too. That covers the law costs. If Rafa donates it to his Foundation in Mallorca so much the better. That is for young tennis players with fewer ressources. ☺ Fiona in Paris
It’s important to know that she has not been a government official for many years. She was the French Minister for Health and Sports until 14 November 2010. She is a contributor to a chat show where they discuss the day’s “Hot Topics” ranging from sociopolitical issues to pop culture. This is where she made her comments.
…..the fine and damages were way too light.
Yes, finally Rafa gets justice! The courts have sent out a clear message that people, especially those in responsible positions, can’t go throwing wild, unsubstantiated accusations without being punished. Rafa is an honourable man and would have been very hurt by the slanderous remarks. Shame on YOU Bachelot! As an ex sports minister she should have known better and, in my opinion, the fine was way too light. I hope Yannick Noah gets the message because, in the past, he’s also tried to tarnish Rafa’s name with silly kdoping allegations.
Noah denied ever directing anything at Rafa. He supported Rafa’s lawsuit against her.
Yannick Noah accused ALL Spanish athletes of doping, according to Le Monde, et al.
RAFA WINS THE WAR
Justice has prevailed. Yes – even Yannick Noah said it earlier .rubbidh fellow. Jealous . All French players like Rafa . They get along v well with Rafa . Some super jealous . Serves them right . Judge Shd have passed severe structures against the wretched roman . Make her eat crow !!
What exactly did Yannick say? And plse name your sources where he named Rafa and accused Rafa of doping. I only found that he accused ALL Spanish athletes of doping [which of course includes Rafa as Rafa is a Spaniard] but he did not name any particular athelete. Thanks.
This is the right outcome and warns others who might try and make false accusations. Well done Rafa for taking this action.
M alegro d tu victoria y ktu nombre sea limpio…eso es lo mas importante…
Las sanciones y cantidad d dinero no hay precio para el daño k se hace…en tu caso todos t conocemos. Pero k hay d lis k no se conoce y hacen este tipo d comentarios?…
Ahora centrate en cuarte y ser competitivo…
Justice is served! For anyone who accuses Rafa without a shred of evidence, here is a lesson!
Way to go Rafa !! Champion .